YORK City boss Colin Walker has expressed his relief that contract rebel Nicky Wroe has moved on to Blue Square Premier rivals Torquay.

The Minstermen have received an undisclosed fee - believed to be a modest five-figure sum - for Wroe, who recently declared his intention not to play for City next season despite the club exercising an option to retain his services for another ten months.

Wroe made 27 starts and scored ten goals for City after being released by Barnsley last summer, but ended the season with a knee injury that required an operation. About his departure for Plainmoor, Walker said: "He made it quite clear he did not want to play for York and, at the end of the day, he's got to do what's best for Nicky Wroe. I have to do what's best for York City.

"We've got to get on with it now and wish him all the best. We can't be upset because there wasn't a lot we could do once he decided he wanted to leave. From a York City point of view, I'm also glad it's been done swiftly and we can move on. I didn't want it to drag on."

With midfielders Stuart Elliott, Ross Greenwood and Manny Panther also having been released at the end of last season, Walker is hoping to recruit two specialists in that area, as well as a new striker.

He said: "We've got lots of irons in the fire and we are quite close to getting a couple of midfield players and a striker."

Martyn Woolford, meanwhile, has joined up with the under-23 England C party for a tour of the West Indies, including friendlies against Barbados and Grenada.